A suction device includes a suction pad, an article holder connected with the suction pad, and a release bar on the suction pad. The suction pad has an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface. The article holder connects with the suction pad. The release bar has a first end or first edge disposed at or adjacent to a peripheral edge of the suction pad. The release bar and the suction pad are configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end of first edge of the release bar with respect to the suction surface breaks a seal between the support surface and the contact surface.
|
26. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad having an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface while requiring no activation to create a partial vacuum between the contact surface and the support surface;
an article holder connected with the suction pad; and
a release bar on the suction pad, the release bar having a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad, the release bar and the suction pad being configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface.
25. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad having an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface;
an article holder connected with the suction pad; and
a release bar on the suction pad, the release bar having a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad, the release bar and the suction pad being configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface, wherein the suction pad includes an overmold feature extending upwardly from a non-working surface, which is opposite the contact surface, of the suction pad, and the release bar is positioned within the overmold feature.
19. A suction device comprising:
an article holder;
a suction pad connected with the article holder, the suction pad including a contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface and a ridge extending toward the article holder from a non-working surface, which is opposite the contact surface;
a skirt extending away from the article holder toward the suction pad and positioned with respect to the suction pad so as to inhibit access to the suction pad when the suction pad with the article holder connected thereto is adhered to the support surface, and the skirt defines an access passage when the suction pad with the article holder connected thereto is adhered to the support surface, the access passage being configured to allow an operator to access to the suction pad through the access passage; and
a rib extending away from the article holder toward the suction pad, wherein the ridge is offset outwardly from the rib.
24. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad having a contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface;
an article holder connected with the suction pad; and
a skirt extending away from the article holder toward the suction pad and positioned with respect to the suction pad so as to inhibit access to the suction pad when the suction pad with the article holder connected thereto is adhered to the support surface, and the skirt defines an access passage when the suction pad with the article holder connected thereto is adhered to the support surface, the access passage being configured to allow an operator to access to the suction pad through the access passage; and
a ring-shaped release bar connected with the suction pad, the release bar having a portion configured to be moved by an operator away from the support surface so as to move the suction pad with respect to the support surface to which the suction pad is adhered.
1. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad having an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface;
an article holder connected with the suction pad; and
a release bar on the suction pad, the release bar having a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad, the release bar and the suction pad being configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface
wherein the article holder rocks about a wobble axis with respect to the suction pad and the first end of the release bar is angularly offset equally in both a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction from a plane on which the wobble axis is disposed, and the release bar includes a second end disposed on an opposite side of the plane from the first end.
11. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad having an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface;
an article holder connected with the suction pad;
a release bar on the suction pad, the release bar having a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad, the release bar and the suction pad being configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface; and
a rigid skirt extending downwardly from the article holder and a flexible skirt extending away from the rigid skirt, wherein the flexible skirt is movable with respect to the article holder and the flexible skirt inhibits access to the first end of the release bar when the suction pad with the article holder connected thereto in a use position is placed on the support surface.
13. A suction device comprising:
a suction pad connector configured to connect with a mating connector;
a suction pad having an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be placed on a support surface and create a partial vacuum between the contact surface and the support surface, the suction pad being fixed to the suction pad connector so as to move with the suction pad connector; and
a release bar on the suction pad, the release bar having a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad, the release bar and the suction pad being configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface, wherein the first end of the release bar is configured to be moved by an operator away from the support surface which moves a greater surface area of the contact surface nearer to the center of the contact surface as compared to movement of the suction pad at other locations on the peripheral edge.
2. The suction device of
4. The suction device of
5. The suction device of
6. The suction device of
8. The suction device of
9. The suction device of
10. The suction device of
12. The suction device of
14. The suction device of
15. The suction device of
16. The suction device of
18. The suction device of
20. The suction device of
21. The suction device of
22. The suction device of
23. The suction device of
|
It is often desirable to secure items to surfaces to inhibit the removal or movement of the item with respect to the surface. Oftentimes, this securement is desired for only a temporary period. Suction devices are often used to secure such items temporarily.
In one particular example, when the aforementioned item is holding a young child's food, it can be desirable to inhibit the child from being able to easily remove the item from the support surface. Other examples include temporarily securing items such as food processing devices that are used in the kitchen to the counter surface that supports the food processing device. There are many other similar examples of where it can be useful to temporarily secure an item to a support surface; however, it is also desirable to allow one to easily remove the item from the support surface when desired.
In view of the foregoing, a suction device includes a suction pad, an article holder connected with the suction pad, and a release bar on the suction pad. The suction pad has an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be adhered to a support surface. The article holder connects with the suction pad. The release bar has a first end or first edge disposed at or adjacent to a peripheral edge of the suction pad. The release bar and the suction pad are configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end of first edge of the release bar with respect to the suction surface breaks a seal between the support surface and the contact surface.
A suction pad also includes a suction pad connector, a suction pad and a release bar. The suction pad connector is configured to connect with a mating connector. The suction pad has an at least substantially planar contact surface configured to be placed on a support surface and create a partial vacuum between the contact surface and the support surface. The suction pad is fixed to the suction pad connector so as to move with the suction pad connector. The release bar is on the suction pad. The release bar has a first end or a first edge disposed at or adjacent a peripheral edge of the suction pad. The release bar and the suction pad are configured such that movement of the suction pad at or adjacent to the first end or the first edge of the release bar with respect to the support surface moves the contact surface to break a seal between the support surface and the contact surface.
The suction pad 14 includes a contact surface 20 configured to be adhered to the support surface 12 and create a partial vacuum between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface 20 is a lower surface of the suction pad 14 that is placed on the support surface 12. The contact surface 20 is at least substantially flat or planar in the illustrated embodiment, which differs from many cup-shaped suction devices. By providing an at least substantially planar contact surface 20, the suction device 10 requires no activation, such as the use of a mechanism to push down and pull up to create a partial vacuum between the contact surface 20 and the support surface 12.
With reference to
The suction pad 14 in the illustrated embodiment is made from a flexible material such as silicone. The non-working surface 24 is flat or planar in the illustrated embodiment. A release bar overmold feature 32 extends toward the article holder 16 from the non-working surface 24 of the suction pad 14. Like the ridge 22, the release bar overmold feature 32 extends upwardly from the non-working surface 24 in the illustrated embodiment. A release bar 40, which will be described in more detail below, is provided on the suction pad 14 and facilitates removal of the suction pad 14 from the support surface 12. The release bar 40 shown in
As mentioned above, the suction pad 14 connects with the article holder 16. A suction pad connector 42 is provided in the illustrated embodiment to facilitate the connection between the suction pad 14 and the article holder 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the suction pad connector 42 is a threaded post. Like the release bar 40, the suction pad connector 42 connects with the suction pad 14 by molding the suction pad 14 over a lower portion of the suction pad connector 42. The suction pad connector 42 can connect with the suction pad 14 in other conventional manners. The suction pad 14 can connect with the article holder 16 in other known manners and a more permanent connection between the suction pad 14 and the article holder 16 could be provided. Allowing the suction pad 14 to be disconnected from the article holder 16 can allow for easier cleaning of the suction device 10.
The article holder 16 in the illustrated embodiment is a bowl having a side wall 50 and a base 52. The article holder 16 depicted in the illustrated embodiment is just one example of an article holder that can be used with the suction device 10. For example, the article holder could be a plate or a bowl having separated compartments. The article holder could also be some sort of kitchen utensil where it would be useful to maintain the relative position of the kitchen utensil with respect to the support surface 12. The article holder could also be another type of device where it would be useful to maintain the relative position of the device with respect to the support surface 12 through the use of suction, and should not be limited to only the bowl-shaped article holder 16 depicted in the illustrated embodiment.
In the illustrated embodiment, the article holder 16 connects with the suction pad 14 such that the article holder 16 rocks with respect to the support surface 12 when the suction pad 14 with the article holder 16 connected thereto is adhered to the support surface 12. With reference to
A skirt, which in the illustrated embodiment is made up of a rigid skirt 70 and a flexible skirt 72, extends away from the article holder 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the article holder 16, the rib 60, and the rigid skirt 70 are all made from the same material, which can be a rigid plastic material. The flexible skirt 72, on the other hand, is made from a flexible material, such as a silicone or flexible rubber-like material such that the flexible skirt 72 is moveable with respect to the article holder 16 and the rigid skirt 70.
With reference to
With reference to
The rigid skirt 70 extends away from the article holder 16 between the article holder 16 and the flexible skirt 72. The flexible skirt 72 extends away from the rigid skirt 70. With reference to
With reference to
The release bar 40 is provided to facilitate removal of the suction pad 14 from the support surface 12. The release bar 40 is connected with the suction pad 14 and has a first end 110 disposed adjacent the peripheral edge 26 of the suction pad and a second end (in the illustrated embodiment there are two second ends 112, 114) spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 26. The release bar 40 and the suction pad 14 are configured such that movement of the first end 110 of the release bar 40 toward the article holder 16 breaks a seal between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 20 so that there is no longer a partial vacuum between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 20. When the first end 110 of the release bar 40 is moved away from the support surface 12, the release bar 40 pivots about the second ends 112, 114.
The release bar 40 in the illustrated embodiment has a general wishbone shape including a U-shaped section 116 that terminates at the respective second ends 112, 114. A central section 118 extends from a midpoint of the U-shaped section 116 toward the first end 110.
With reference to
The release bar 40 extends through the passage 64 in the rib 60 when the suction pad 14 is connected with the article holder 16 in the use configuration. The first end 110 of the release bar 40 is also aligned with the cut-out portion 80 of the rigid skirt 70 when the suction pad 14 is connected with the article holder 16 in a use configuration.
A release bar 240, similar to the release bars 40 and 140 described above, is on the suction pad 214. In the embodiment depicted in
The release bar 240 has a first end 250 disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge 226 of the suction pad 214 and a second end (in the embodiment illustrated in
The release bar 240 in the illustrated embodiment has a general wishbone shape including a U-shaped section 256 that terminates at the respective second ends 252, 254. A central section 258 extends from a midpoint of the U-shaped section 256 toward the first end 250. A central extension 260 extends from the midpoint of the U-shaped section 256 toward a suction pad connector 262, which is similar to the suction pad connector 42 described above. The suction pad 214 can also be provided with a rotational stop (in the embodiment illustrated in
The first end 250 of the release bar 240 is angularly offset equally in both a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction with respect to the wobble axis 54 (see
A release bar 340, similar to the release bars 40, 140 and 240 described above, is on the suction pad 314. In the embodiment depicted in
The release bar 340 has a first end 350 disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge 326 of the suction pad 314 and a second end 352 spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 326 and nearer to the center of the suction pad 314. The release bar 340 and the suction pad 314 are configured such that movement of the suction pad 314 at or adjacent to the first end 350 of the release bar 340 toward the article holder 16 breaks a seal between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 320 so that there is no longer a partial vacuum between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 320. Similar to the aforementioned release bars 40, 140 and 240, the release bar 340 provides structural rigidity to the suction pad 314.
The suction pad 314 can also be provided with a suction pad connect 362, which is similar to the suction pad connector 42 described above and a rotational stop 364, 366 that cooperate with article holder 16 to properly locate the article holder 16 with respect to the suction pad 314 and to limit rotational movement of the article holder 16 with respect to the suction pad 314.
The first end 350 of the release bar 340 is also aligned with the cut-out portion 80 (
In use, the suction device 10 is placed on the support surface 12 such that the contact surface 20, 220, 320, which can be at least substantially planar (i.e., not cup-shaped), creates a partial vacuum between the contact surface 20, 220, 320 and the support surface 12. Because of the configuration of the suction pad 14, 214, 314, the partial vacuum is strongest near the center of the contact surface 20, 220, 320. The article holder 16 is then precluded from movement with respect to the support surface 12 by the partial vacuum created between the support surface 12 and the contact surface 20, 220, 320. Also, when a force is applied to the article holder 16 at a location offset from the wobble axis 54, the distal edge 62 of the rib 60 in the vicinity where the force is being applied is moved toward suction pad 14 and contacts the non-working surface 24 of the suction pad 14. This moves the contact surface 20, 220, 320 toward the support surface 12 and results in friction between the contact surface 20, 220, 320 and the support surface 12, which limits sliding movement of the suction pad 14 along the support surface 12.
To release the suction device 10 from the support surface 12, an operator raises the flexible skirt 72 at the cut-out portion 80 of the rigid skirt 70. At this time, the portion of the suction pad 14, 214, 314 adjacent the first end 110, 250, 350 or the first edge 142 of the release bar 40, 140, 240, 340 respectively, is exposed and the operator can lift the suction pad 14 near the first end 110, 250, 350 or the first edge 142 and move the first end 110, 250, 350 or first edge 142 upwardly toward the article holder 16. In the embodiment with the release bar 40 depicted in
The first end 110, 250, 250 of the release bar 40, 240, 340 is configured to be moved by an operator away from the support surface 12 which moves a greater surface area of the contact surface 20, 220, 320 nearer to the center of the contact surface as compared to movement of the suction pad 14, 214, 314 at other locations on the peripheral edge 26, 226, 326, e.g., locations on the peripheral edge 26, 226, 326 circumferentially spaced from the first end 110, 250, 250 of the release bar 40, 240, 340. As such, in some embodiments it is more of a peeling action, with the release bar providing structural rigidity through the release bar toward the center of the contact surface 20, 220, 320 so that the contact surface 20, 220, 320 nearer to the center of the contact surface moves away from the support surface 12 thus releasing the partial vacuum between the contact surface 20, 220, 320 and the support surface 12.
A suction device has been described above with particularity. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. For example, the shape of the suction pad as well as the shape of the release bar could be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, many other types of article holders could be attached to the suction pad. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be covered by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.
Kim, Sunny, Mutch, Martin, Phipps, Troy, Chen, Tiffany
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10624482, | Sep 01 2017 | Non-slip container with hidden suction cup | |
ER1133, | |||
ER4976, |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
1117548, | |||
2623369, | |||
2839260, | |||
5176357, | May 07 1990 | Suction-cup release mechanism | |
5180132, | Nov 22 1991 | Self-setting suction holder device | |
5405112, | Jan 10 1994 | Suction cup release assembly | |
5454540, | May 06 1994 | MCPHERSON, GARY | Suction cup release mechanism |
5588476, | Aug 19 1994 | Removable window shade | |
6422402, | Apr 23 2001 | COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK | Napkin holder with suction cup |
6478271, | Aug 07 2001 | Free-Free Industrial Corporation | Mounting sucker |
6648285, | Aug 20 2002 | Suction cup with hold/release mechanism | |
6832615, | Jan 12 2000 | Surface mountable floss container | |
7437841, | Aug 06 2002 | Serving dish for children | |
7748671, | Aug 25 2006 | Sony Corporation | Suction cup device |
9573531, | Feb 10 2015 | Mounting apparatus for portable electronic device | |
9664227, | Apr 04 2016 | Canshow Industrial Co., Ltd.; CANSHOW INDUSTRIAL CO , LTD | Vacuum retaining device capable of reuse |
9725935, | Sep 08 2015 | Safety stop for a sliding door or window | |
9732785, | Sep 25 2014 | KAI R & D CENTER CO , LTD | Suction cup device |
20020162511, | |||
20080078296, | |||
20120112023, | |||
20140326630, | |||
20140346295, | |||
20150230638, | |||
20160053802, | |||
20160238060, | |||
20160331163, | |||
CN201641439, | |||
CN204232749, | |||
GB2520737, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Mar 26 2018 | MUTCH, MARTIN | Helen of Troy Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 045383 | /0308 | |
Mar 26 2018 | CHEN, TIFFANY | Helen of Troy Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 045383 | /0308 | |
Mar 26 2018 | KIM, SUNNY | Helen of Troy Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 045383 | /0308 | |
Mar 26 2018 | PHIPPS, TROY | Helen of Troy Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 045383 | /0308 | |
Mar 29 2018 | Helen of Troy Limited | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Mar 29 2018 | BIG: Entity status set to Undiscounted (note the period is included in the code). |
Sep 21 2022 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Apr 09 2022 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Oct 09 2022 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 09 2023 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Apr 09 2025 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Apr 09 2026 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Oct 09 2026 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 09 2027 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Apr 09 2029 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Apr 09 2030 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Oct 09 2030 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 09 2031 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Apr 09 2033 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |